still more so when they heard that he had not only spared, but favoured their rivals, the Jews. Similar honours and privileges, at least, were expected by them, in return for their ready submission; but Alexander excused himself for the present, by the urgency of his affairs: promising to visit them, if possible, on his return from Egypt, whither he was then hastening. The deputies then begged the same exemption from tribute as he had granted the Jews; but as they could not then satisfy him as to the validity of their claim, he deferred this matter also till his return. On his way to Egypt, Alexander was detained two months before Gaza, which being a strong city, and ably defended by Betis, who governed there for Darius, sustained the attacks of all his forces during that time. Here the king received two dangerous wounds, which, added to the delay, enraged him to such a degree, that when he had taken the city, he treated the inhabitants and their valiant governor with excessive cruelty: acting over again, or even surpassing the tragic scenes he had displayed at Thebes and at Tyre. When he arrived at Pelusium in Egypt, so far from meeting with any resistance, he was welcomed by the natives as a deliverer; and hailed as their king. The Persians from the time of Cambyses had always been hateful to the Egyptians, by the tyranny they exercised towards them; and by the contempt they evinced for their superstitions, which, absurd as they were, were nevertheless held sacred by the nation. It is not surprising, therefore, that they should welcome any new comer, nor that Alexander at the head of a victorious army should find them ready to open their gates to him. It was when he was fully established in the possession of Egypt that Alexander projected that silly journey the temple of Jupiter Hammon in Libya. Intoxiated with success, he seems to have forgotten- what ad passed at Jerusalem; and far from considering himelf an instrument to execute the decrees of the God of heaven, he becomes inflated with the contemptible anity of passing for a divinity himself. On his way to his temple, he fixed on the site of a new city which ne judged commodious for trade and commerce; and o which he gave his own name. Having settled every thing respecting this city, the building went on so rapidly during his absence, that on his return he provided for the peopling of it, by drawing colonies from other nations. Among these were many Jews, to whom he allowed not only the free exercise of their religion and laws, but the same immunities as were granted to his own Macedonians, whom he settled there. Alexander having wintered at Memphis, and there regulated the future government of Egypt, returned into Asia in the spring to prosecute the war against Darius. When hẹ reached Palestine, he was informed that Andromachus, whom he had left to govern that country and Syria, had been tumultuously killed by the Samaritans. The disappointment of these people when they applied to Alexander, and were refused the favours which had been conferred on the Jews, is supposed to have caused the discontent and rage which incited them to this murder. Alexander was greatly displeased, and it was not long before he avenged it. He put to death the principal aggressors; and driving the rest of the inhabitants out of Samaria, settled a colony of Macedonians there; and gave their other territories to the Jews. The remnant of the Samaritans who survived this calamity, re tired to Shechem,* near Mount Gerizim, which place afterwards became the chief city of that people. The eight thousand who had followed Alexander, were sent by him to settle at Thebais in Egypt: lest revenge/for the fate of their countrymen should incite them to mutiny. Alexander having settled the affairs of Syria and Palestine, again took the field, and crossing the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, gained the decisive battle of Arbela, by which he put an end to the Persian empire for Darius was unable to make head against him any more; and the death of that prince shortly after, left him without a rival. Thus, in the space of three years, was this mighty empire subdued; because the time appointed for its end was come and thus were the ambitious views of Alexander rendered subservient to the designs of God's Providence. In our reflections on the rise and fall of empires and kingdoms, let us ever remember that, "promotion cometh neither from the east nor from the west;" that it is not the strength of armies, nor the policy of rulers that can in any way decide the fate of nations. But that "God is the judge who setteth up one and putteth down another." Let us be no less mindful that the strength of any people is the defence of the Most High; and that where the fear of God prevails, the fear of man is not only taken away, but the power of man annihilated: "For if God be for us, who can be Dagainst us?" In the dreadful scenes of carnage and destruction which attend the progress of a conqueror, and in the crimes and cruelties which disgrace the annals of mankind, let us contemplate the consequences which sin has entailed on our race: ever remembering * Or Sychar. that our hearts are, by nature, equally corrupt with those of the most profligate; and if we have not, like them, been left in ignorance of God's will, to give ourselves up to the dominion of sin, let us ascribe glory and praise to the Lord for his redeeming grace, whereby hev e has called us out of such darkness into his marvellous light. There are no other circumstances in the life of Alexander which regard our present subject, excepting his desire to restore and beautify Babylon; where he intended to fix the seat of his empire. He began by endeavouring to repair the bank, which had been broken down by Cyrus; but some obstacle retarded the progress of this work, and his death soon after put Jan entire end to it. He was no less solicitous to rebuild the temple of Belus, which had been destroyed by Xerxes; and for this purpose employed his soldiers to clear away the rubbish. When it came to the turn of those among them who were Jews, they absolutely refused to labour at this work: alleging that their religion forbade them to assist in the erection of an idol temple. Alexander ordered them to be punished; but *this measure had no effect in bringing them to obedience in this particular. The king was at length so much pleased with their constancy, that he not only forgave their refusal, but dispensed with their services, and allowed them to return to their own country. It is scarcely needful to remind you that God had declared by the prophet Jeremiah that Babylon should sink and never rise again. The attempts of Alexander were not followed up by any of his successors, so that the city was left in the forlorn and unhealthy state to which the stagnant waters had reduced it. On the building of Seleucia, about thirty years after, the inhabitants quit ted a spot which was no less unwholesome than unfavourable to traffic, and went to dwell in the new city. Babylon, thus deserted, fell into utter contempt and ruin, and became "a place for the bittern, and pools of water; a dwelling place for owls and beasts of the desert; till at length it was swept away'i y with the besom of destruction," so completely, that travellers in Asia have had great difficulty in ascertaining the spot where it stood.* BEFORE we quit the subjects which have lately engaged our notice, I must beg your attention to the remarks I wish to offer on the character of Alexander. He has been surnamed "The Great" by his biographers, but the actions of his life, whether public or private, are by no means such as can give him any claim to that title. If indeed a man's character were to be estimated by his success, the case would be altered: but even then, Alexander would stand pre-eminent among those only who have been the scourges of mankind; and that would not surely be an enviable distinction. There is a fascinating charm called glory which historians too frequently throw around conquerors; and which, dazzling the eyes of superficial beholders, prevents a close inspection of their real character. Young persons are very apt to yield to the impressions made in this man'ner; because their inexperience leads them to rely implicitly on the judgment of others; and their unsus * Isaiah xiii. 19–22. xiv, 23. Jeremiah I. li. |